Geronimo His own story

Religion

In our primitive worship only our relations to Usen and the members of our
tribe were considered as appertaining to our religious responsibilities. As to
the future state, the teachings of our tribe were not specific, that is, we
had no definite idea of our relations and surroundings in after life. We
believed that there is a life after this one, but no one ever told me as to
what part of man lived after death. I have seen many men die; I have seen many
human bodies decayed, but I have never seen that part which is called the
spirit; I do not know what it is; nor have I yet been able to understand that
part of the Christian religion. We held that the discharge of one's duty would
make his future life more pleasant, but whether that future life was worse
than this life or better, we did not know, and no one was able to tell us. We
hoped that in the future life family and tribal relations would be resumed. In
a way we believed this, but we did not know it.

Once when living in San Carlos Reservation an Indian told me that while
lying unconscious on the battlefield he had actually been dead, and had passed
into the spirit land.

First he came to a mulberry tree growing out from a cave in the ground.
Before this cave a guard was stationed, but when he approached without fear
the guard let him pass. He descended into the cave, and a little way back the
path widened and terminated in a perpendicular rock many hundreds of feet wide
and equal in height. There was not much light, but by peering directly beneath
him he discovered a pile of sand reaching from the depths below to within
twenty feet of the top of the rock where he stood. Holding to a bush, he swung
off from the edge of the rock and dropped onto the sand, sliding rapidly down
its steep side into the darkness. He landed in a narrow passage running due
westward through a canyon which gradually grew lighter and lighter until he
could see as well as if it had been daylight; but there was no sun. Finally he
came to a section of this passage that was wider for a short distance, and
then closing abruptly continued in a narrow path; just where this section
narrowed two huge serpents were coiled, and rearing their heads, hissed at him
as he approached, but he
showed no fear, and as soon as he came close to
them they withdrew quietly and let him pass. At
the next place, where the passage opened into a
wider section, were two grizzly bears prepared to
attack him, but when he approached and spoke
to them they stood aside and he passed unharmed.
He continued to follow the narrow passage, and
the third time it widened and two mountain lions
crouched in the way, but when he had approached them without fear and had spoken to
them they also withdrew. He again entered the
narrow passage. For some time he followed this
emerging into a fourth section beyond which he
could see nothing: the further walls of this section were clashing together at regular intervals
with tremendous sounds, but when he approached them they stood apart until he had
passed. After this he seemed to be in a forest, and
following the natural draws which led westward
soon came into a green valley where there were
many Indians camped and plenty of game. He
said that he saw and recognized many whom he
had known in this life, and that he was sorry
when he was brought back to consciousness.

I told him if I knew this to be true I would
not want to live another day, but by some means,
if by my own hands, I would die in order to enjoy these pleasures. I myself have lain unconscious
on the battlefield, and while in that condition
have had some strange thoughts or experiences;
but they are very dim and I cannot recall them
well enough to relate them. Many Indians believed this warrior, and I cannot say that he did
not tell the truth. I wish I knew that what he said
is beyond question true. But perhaps it is as well
that we are not certain.

Since my life as a prisoner has begun I have
heard the teachings of the white man's religion,
and in many respects believe it to be better than
the religion of my fathers. However, I have always prayed, and I believe that the Almighty has
always protected me.

Believing that in a wise way it is good to go to
church, and that associating with Christians
would improve my character, I have adopted the
Christian religion. I believe that the church has
helped me much during the short time I have
been a member. I am not ashamed to be a Christian, and I am glad to know that the President of
the United States is a Christian, for without the
help of the Almighty I do not think he could
rightly judge in ruling so many people. I have advised all of my people who are not Christians, to
study that religion, because it seems to me the
best religion in enabling one to live right.